10 Things to Consider Before Getting Bangs
Deciding whether or not to take the face-framing plunge can be one of the most unnerving style commitments you can make. Hair guru Oscar Blandi gives his top 10 tips on exactly what to consider before-and after-you make the cut.
1) YES, YOU WILL BE A SLAVE TO TRIMS
Hair grows about a half an inch a month-and just a fraction of that amount can completely throw off how-and where-bangs fall. "When bangs aren't precisely the right shape, it can alter the proportions of your face as well as be extremely difficult to style," says Blandi, who suggests getting a bang trim every two weeks to keep them perfectly polished. "Keep track of how long after you got them cut that you truly loved the length, so that you can time a trim just right."
2) EXTRA STYLING TIME IS NONNEGOTIABLE
Forget bed head. The state of your bangs in the morning could be disastrous. Whether you're giving them a fresh start with a shampoo and blow dry or working with second day hair, bangs take styling priority. "They're always on display and the main focal point of your style, so you no longer have the luxury of just pulling all of your hair back," says Blandi. If you're in a time crunch, slightly dampen just your fringe, then blast strands with a blow dryer to reshape them stat.
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3) YOUR FACE SHAPE MATTERS. A LOT.
Forget Botox. Bangs have the power to completely transform your face. If you have a longer face shape, avoid a blunt cut for a more softly shaped style or long side sweep to balance out your naturally angular jawline. Have a more round face with not-so-distinct cheekbones? Go for a straight-edged short or heavy fringe with longer side pieces that graze your cheekbones, to create the illusion of contour, says Blandi.
4) PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR PROFILE
Although you often look at yourself straight on in a mirror, Blandi says it's crucial to remember that you're being seen from every angle. All. Day. Long. And so, taking your profile, not only your face shape is key. "It's universally flattering to have a few pieces that sit on your cheeks to prevent your profile from being visually cut off," he says.
5) WORK WITH-NOT AGAINST-YOUR HAIR TEXTURE
When you have finer hair, getting bangs can create instant volume-simply because the front section of hair appears thicker. However, go too far back to include ample strands, and the body of hair can get thinned out. Blandi suggests starting bangs only slightly back from your forehead and using face-framing layers to add depth ("This lets you keep as much hair as possible in the rest of your style," he says.) For thick, even coarse or wavy hair, opt for a longer fringe that can easily be pushed to the side and having a little movement to hair actually works with the finish.
6) DITCH THE STRAIGHTENER
Grabbing a scorching hot iron to smooth strands is for sure a fast fix. But turning up the temperature day after day (typically around 400 degrees) will fry strands-not a good look for bangs. "Only go over hair quickly with an iron if hair is very coarse or curly," says Blandi. Otherwise, a blow dryer and brush is all you need. Blandi's tool of choice: a medium sized round brush. "But use it as if it was a paddle brush," he says. "Grab hair at the root, pull it straight through to the ends without curling them under, then repeat until hair is completely dry."
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7) DRY SHAMPOO IS YOUR NEW DAILY RITUAL
Because sometimes it's just a little natural oil at the scalp that can leave bangs looking like an oil slick. And dry shampoo, is just that-dry shampoo-and all you need to keep them looking freshly washed. To prevent product overload, Blandi recommends spraying some dry shampoo onto your fingertips then massaging it in directly at the roots, not applying it all over. Plus, it can give flat fringe a bit of lift, he says.
8) NEVER, EVER LEAVES BANGS BARE
You know that constant blow drying and styling can rip strands, so imagine the constant assault that bangs are subjected to. Before going crazy with any hot tools, always use a heat protecting cream to shield strands. "I like to apply a strengthening treatment on the brush, not hair directly, then comb through just below the roots," he says.
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9) COLOR IS A GAME CHANGER
Just how color can add depth and dimension to the body of hair, it can do the same for bangs. "For women with fine texture, adding a few highlights or lowlights to bangs will create the appearance of fullness," says Blandi. Or simply make more of an impact. "Color can make bangs much more beautiful and interesting-and going more extreme with color gradations makes more of an impact that people notice right away," he says.
10) KEEP THE REST OF YOUR STYLE AS IS
And the very best part about bangs despite being so high maintenance? It's a dramatic change that isn't actually all that dramatic. Because, face it, the rest of your hair and style can remain untouched. "Bangs are such a classic," says Blandi. "There's so many ways that you can wear them, and change your look entirely from one tiny tweak."
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